raknovel Chapter 703 - 138: Drugging the Wine (Fourth Update)
Chapter 703 - 138: Drugging the Wine (Fourth Update)
Han Huohuo hid in the shadows, witnessing Han Caicai leading Mu Qingge away. His heart filled with rage, ’Han Caicai, you really want to compete with me in everything! I don’t care about this Young Master’s identity, but now you’re competing with me for beauty?’
He waited until their figures disappeared before reluctantly descending the mountain, but the wicked fire that had been sparked in his heart could not be suppressed.
Han Caicai led Mu Qingge through the yard, arriving at a spot beside a boulder, where a sturdy door was hidden among the rocks.
At this moment, the door was already open, and two maidservants carrying empty trays were coming out from inside.
Upon seeing Han Caicai, they bent their knees and lowered their gaze respectfully, saying, "Young Master."
Han Caicai said to the two, "How has everything been arranged?"
"Everything has been arranged according to Young Master’s instructions," answered one of the maidservants.
Only then did Han Caicai nod, flicking his sleeves to dismiss them, and turned to Mu Qingge, saying, "Please."
Mu Qingge followed him through the door, going down several layers of narrow steps until they entered the wine cellar. This wine cellar seemed much smaller compared to Wanxiang Building’s wine cellar in Lanwu City.
However, various wine jars still filled the shelves all around.
In the middle of the open space, a clean silk brocade was spread out, embroidered with vibrant flowers, perfectly aligning with Han Caicai’s taste.
On the brocade, there was a low table. The table was filled with dishes of exquisite taste, both meat and vegetables, looking very tempting.
All around the wine cellar, large and small Luminous Pearls hung, their cold light illuminating the cellar brightly, resembling even the taste of starlight.
Mu Qingge swept her gaze around, seeing that Han Caicai had meticulously arranged this place.
"This wine cellar is my private collection, not only with wines from all the continents of the Middle Ancient Realm, but also some I brought from Linchuan." Han Caicai said to Mu Qingge.
"Wine from Linchuan." Mu Qingge’s heart stirred, revealing a smile, "It seems my visit today is indeed worth it."
She walked towards the shelf holding wine jars, moving slowly until she stopped at a particular spot.
"Moon Dew Brew." Mu Qingge picked up the jar, her gaze falling on the three words on the jar, her clear eyes showing a hint of nostalgia.
Han Caicai walked over, standing behind her and speaking slowly, "Yes, it’s Qin Country’s Moon Dew Brew."
Mu Qingge’s lips lifted gently, nodding, "It’s been over two years since I’ve tasted it." Seeing Han Caicai’s private wine cellar, she felt a sense of regret rising in her heart. Why had she never thought of collecting wine in her own space while traveling through so many places?
Mu Qingge chuckled softly, inwardly criticizing, ’Ultimately, I’m not a person who loves wine. Enjoying alcohol is merely a means to express feelings that cannot be spoken.’
Weighing the jar in her hand, Mu Qingge looked at Han Caicai and smiled, "How about starting with this one?"
This kind of smile Han Caicai hadn’t seen on Mu Qingge’s face for a long time, and he couldn’t help but be entranced. But soon, he snapped back, smiling and nodding.
Pretending not to notice Han Caicai’s moment of distraction, Mu Qingge took the Moon Dew Brew over to the low table.
Some things, if exposed, would ruin tonight’s drinking.
The two sat opposite each other, abandoning chairs and instead using mats, which was more casual.
Mu Qingge sat down boldly, punched through the seal on the wine jar, and tore away the red cloth at its mouth. Instantly, a fragrance of wine spread and filled the entire wine cellar.
"What a fine aroma! What a fine wine!" Mu Qingge inhaled deeply, praising it without restraint.
Next, she poured the sparkling wine into the two large bowls before her, and handed one to Han Caicai.
Han Caicai took it, intending to clink glasses with her, but she raised her bowl first and drank.
Helplessly, Han Caicai had to retract his hand, "You really don’t give me any face."
After finishing the bowl of fine wine, Mu Qingge spoke with a trace of aftertaste, "Why bother with pretentious etiquette? Being more carefree makes both of us comfortable."
This sentence left Han Caicai speechless.
He also drank the wine in his bowl.
Seeing Mu Qingge pour herself another bowl, he laughed, "When I visited your Luoxing City, you didn’t treat me like this, today you’ve gained."
Mu Qingge laughed, "I don’t have such private collections as Young Master Han does."
Wine is a magical thing.
With half a jar of Moon Dew Brew consumed, the previous estrangements between them seemed to gradually dissolve, and they returned to their former ways of interaction.
"I have never had the chance to ask you, two years ago when you reshaped the Linglong Spear, did something happen?" Han Caicai had held this question in his heart until today when he finally had the chance to ask.
Mu Qingge placed the wine bowl down, her smile slightly restrained. "Nothing much, just underwent a great battle."
Han Caicai frowned, "Since you describe it like this, it must have been very thrilling and filled with danger."
Mu Qingge did not respond, merely picked up the wine bowl again, drinking the wine in it.
"Is he... by your side?" Knowing full well she shouldn’t ask, Han Caicai couldn’t help but speak.
Mu Qingge raised her eyes and looked at Han Caicai.
In the depths of her clear eyes, there seemed to be a probing power that could see through Han Caicai’s thoughts. Under her gaze, Han Caicai felt a desire to escape.
"He is."
Just as Han Caicai regretted asking, Mu Qingge suddenly gave her answer.
Inexplicably, this answer brought a sense of relief to Han Caicai, as if something that had been troubling her was finally being set free.
He took the wine jar and poured himself a full bowl.
He raised the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Perhaps it was what Mu Qingge said when entering the city that touched him. Or maybe he was gradually letting go; in any case, upon hearing news of Mu Qingge and Si Mo now, his feelings were no longer as they once were.
"What realm are you at now? I can no longer see through you." Han Caicai set down the wine bowl and asked Mu Qingge.
"Silver Realm Sixth Layer." Mu Qingge answered without hiding.
"Silver Realm Sixth Layer!" Han Caicai’s long eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he laughed, "Mu Qingge truly is Mu Qingge, born to overwhelm people. When you first arrived in the Middle Ancient Realm, I was far ahead of you, yet now, I can only look up to you." Even as he worked tirelessly every day, he was still at the Silver Realm Fourth Layer.
"Mu Qingge, are we still friends?" Han Caicai suddenly asked.
Mu Qingge was taken aback, not knowing why he suddenly asked this, but she nodded slowly. She had never forgotten Han Caicai’s help to her.
If not for the entanglement of love, they would still be confidants today.
"To be friends with you, Mu Qingge, is indeed a blessing for three lives." Han Caicai suddenly sighed.
Mu Qingge’s clear eyes held no trace of intoxication. She looked at Han Caicai and said, "Han Caicai, this isn’t like you." The Han Caicai she knew was spirited, proud, cold, never losing out, and full of tricks.
Now, before her, Han Caicai appeared self-doubting, dejected, and entangled in emotions.
"Mu Qingge, perhaps knowing you is my tribulation. You’re right; when facing you, I don’t seem like myself anymore." Han Caicai suddenly said.
He took a deep breath, as if finally making some decision, wanting to say something to Mu Qingge.
Just then, someone suddenly interrupted, "Young Master, there’s an urgent matter in the residence that requires your attention."
Han Caicai’s demeanor turned cold, and a steely gleam emerged in his long eyes.
Mu Qingge raised her wine bowl and said to him, "The long night is ahead, go handle your matters first. I’ll wait for you here."
Han Caicai stood up, looked at her, and said, "I’ll be back soon."
With that, he walked out of the wine cellar.
Inside the wine cellar, only Mu Qingge was left alone. Of course, she wasn’t lonely, for there were many fine wines accompanying her.
Han Caicai stepped out of the wine cellar, stood before the mountain wall, looked at the newcomers, and said with displeasure, "What happened?"
"The servant doesn’t know, only hearing it’s news from the front." The maid who came to call him said, bowing her head.
Han Caicai frowned and then strode away from the wine cellar.
Not long after he left, someone suddenly approached in the darkness, appearing outside the wine cellar. The person said to the maid guarding the cellar, "The Young Master has urgent matters to attend to and may not return soon. I thought of a pot of fine wine brought back from the Central Continent left in his chamber and was tasked to deliver it here. Please deliver it inside and pass along a message. Ask the gentleman inside to be patient and wait a while."
The maid was a bit suspicious, scrutinizing the visitor’s appearance in the night but couldn’t see clearly. She could only see that the visitor wore the same attire as hers, indicating they were also someone from the residence.
It was just a pot of wine; the wine cellar had much more.
Without much thought, the maid reached out and accepted the wine pot handed to her.
It was heavy, indeed full of wine.
"Then I’ll take my leave." The person who delivered the wine retreated into the night.
The maid guarding outside the wine cellar carried the wine pot and headed inside. Soon, she appeared before Mu Qingge. She carefully placed the wine pot on the low table and softly explained, "Mr. Mu, the Young Master might be delayed for a while. Fearing you’d be bored, he remembered a pot of fine wine from the Central Continent in his room and sent someone to deliver it."
After explaining, she bent her knees and retreated.
Mu Qingge’s gaze fell on the wine pot, her eyes deep and hard to fathom. After a moment, she picked up the pot and poured the wine into the bowl before her.
The maid walked out of the wine cellar and resumed her post at the door.
Suddenly, a strange wind blew, causing her to freeze, and like a wooden figure, her eyes lost focus, standing motionlessly.
A black figure emerged from the darkness, walked up to the maid, waved a hand in front of her eyes, and seeing no reaction, scoffed disdainfully before stepping into the wine cellar.
The light inside the wine cellar dispelled the darkness on him, revealing his face.